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International schools group’s bid to make schools ‘vape-free zones’
The zero-tolerance approach will see detectors installed in schools and random bag checks, as well as anti-vaping education for all students
International schools group GEMS Education is aiming to make its schools “vape-free zones” after launching a zero-tolerance campaign against “the dangerous trend”.
GEMS Education, which includes around 50 schools in the Middle East, says it plans to re-educate students on the dangers of vaping and nicotine addiction, at the same time as clamping down on the practice.
It says that the new initiative will ramp up student and parent awareness campaigns while providing support to students who want to quit.
Detectors in vaping ‘hotspots’
GEMS also plans to install vaping detectors in “hotspot locations” in its schools and carry out random bag checks.
Lisa Crausby, group chief education officer, described vaping as “one of the most pressing health threats facing young people today”.
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She said: “At GEMS Education, we refuse to stand by and let this dangerous trend take hold in our schools.
“Students found with vapes in our schools will receive a serious consequence and follow-up education sessions with counsellors to support them in quitting vaping.”
Ms Crausby said the initiative was about enforcement but went beyond banning vapes and was also about “education and prevention”, adding: “We are very proud to be leading the way in making our schools vape-free zones.”
Vaping a ‘massive issue’ in schools
Vaping has been described by teachers as a ”massive issue”; recent research found one in six vapes confiscated in English schools contained spice, a synthetic drug that has a range of dangerous side effects, including cardiac arrest.
Scottish headteacher Pauline Walker, who is also president of School Leaders Scotland, reflected on her school’s experience of installing vaping alarms in an interview with Tes in December.
She said that the alarms - installed in the three main toilets of The Royal High School in Edinburgh - had solved two problems: students were no longer reluctant to use the toilets for legitimate reasons and they no longer hid in the toilets to vape when they should be in class.
She described the alarms as “a real deterrent” to vaping.
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